Tuesday, January 16, 2018

“Palm Springs” by Castle Pines – A Song Review

     “Palm Springs” is defined by diverse components that are skillfully performed and intelligently arranged. The vocals in the single by Castle Pines range from near whispers to band shouts, and include what sounds like children on a playground (2:47). Instrumentally, the track is a sequence of different attractive hooks, keeping the track “fresh” for its full four minutes. We recommend listening to “Palm Springs” on repeat and changing the focus each time. The bass drives the song during an early portion, and a crystalline guitar (similar to early The Byrds) carries the vocals during the near-whisper ending.

     Castle Pines describes “Palm Springs” as “a straight forward and uplifting road trip jam about going on family trips in the 90's. Maintains a chill and poolside feeling while still having driving movement and direction with dynamics and guitar work.” Palm Springs, the city, is as diverse as “Palm Springs,” the song. It is considered a retirement area for many, but sits in Coachella Valley, the site of perhaps the most popular U.S. festival. Of interest in music-related history, in 1990 then-mayor Sonny Bono played a role in reducing Palm Springs’ popularity as a spring break destination.

     Castle Pines is an Alt-Rock group from Corona, California. The members are Leandro Barrientos (vocals, guitar), Ricky Garvey (lead guitar, backing vocals), Sterling Fairfield (percussion), and Jesse Briseno (bass).

     “Palm Springs” has had its fans for months. It was on Castle Pines’ May 2017 album “Summer Blood,” and was initially released as a single well before the album. Castle Pines is re-promoting the track as a reboot after a health-imposed hiatus. The life of drummer Sterling Fairfield was a concern last year. He was hospitalized for a significant portion of 2017. After treatment and surgery, Sterling has grabbed his drumsticks again; and Castle Pines is working to release a seven-track album sometime in 2018.

     “Palm Springs” by Castle Pines 


     “Derailed” by Castle Pines 


Lyrics of “Palm Springs” by Castle Pines
Held inside of a tin-can van
No air to breathe in a barren land
Drive up to a painted shell
Neon church on a sidewalk hell

Let’s move to the desert
We can work it out
Miles stretched out before us
We can bring it down
Bring it all back down

Bleak hills
Climbing up just to get outside
Soft kills
No air to breathe in a mountain sky
Yeah, yeah ,yeah, yeah

Growing old and getting grey
In a dried up place that doesn't age
Well, I hear the desert screaming from a cage
Well, I hear the desert scream from a cage

Let’s move to the desert
We can work it out
Miles stretched out before us
We can bring it down
Bring it all back down

Bleak hills
Climbing up just to get outside
Soft kills
No air to breathe in a mountain sky
Sheah, yeah ,yeah, yeah
Sheah, yeah ,yeah, yeah

Bleak hills
Climbing up just to get outside
Soft kills
No air to breathe in a mountain sky

I woke up, with the mountain sky
With the moon held high

I woke up, with the mountain sky

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